Ball joint



July 16, 1935. R. J. c. TAMPIER BALL JOINT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 17, 1955 16 ll/ l/ 55o asf July 16, 1935. R. J. c. TAMPIER BALL JOINT Filed March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig] A Y l Fi .8. 59W 71 g 7 F V L 58 6X \L S v y 1 i j Aim/fw 0 July 16, 1935. R. J. c. TAMPn-:R

BALL JOINT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1933 /NVENTR Wem/l Z- BY l Arm/ww Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES rn'frENTV OFFICE'.

Y Applieati'on'March 17, 1933, serial ivd, 661,395 v In FranceMarchlS, 1932 claims.y l(o1. asv- 90) In the case of aircraft, as in that of motor ve- Figure 12 is a'section of afurther modification; hicles, endeavours are beingmade to obtain rapid Figure A13 is a plan of FigurelZ; disconnection of joints, for example in dismount- Figure 14 is a section of another modiiication.

ing engines which it is desired to replace quickly. Figure l5 is `a view in sectional elevation of the 5 The method of reattachment should be such. that invention asapplied to means for mounting an 5 no untimely loosening can occuigand that all aircraft tank; A u Y play is taken up While the device is in use. i Figures 16 to 19v illustrate a similar device toA In order to attain this result, use has been made that shown in Figurel with a modiiied form of of a ball joint, in which any possible play is taken key locking4 means, an

l0 up by a spring, the tension of which can be raised Figures 20 to-23 illustrate a similar device with lo to the maximum, Without'the possibility of the amodifled form `oicombinedhkey and locking device coming undone, by means of a cam permeans. i

pendicular to the axis of the ball which is adapted I is a. ball Withthe attached rod 2 and adapted to turn or slide inthat position. to move in all directions in the ballsocket 3.` The invention relates more particularly to con'- Against the ball I `bears thespherical thrust block 15 structions vin which the axis ofthe ball rod, When 4 actuated bythe spring 5 engaging in the block in its mean position, is at right `angles to the Shaving a diametricalV ridge 'Is-which iits .into direction' of the thrust or pullA that is to be proa groove` 8 inthe key Sand bears against one face duced. It is applicable in particular to the conof acain element 9X;`the key 9 is also-provided 20 trols of carbureters, to levers in which the ball Witharsecond` groove AIII against Which/the ridge 20 rod is overhung` or is integral with the control J .is adapted to -bear when the key 9 is in the relever; to torsional*` controls; in the-terminals 'for Verse position., A fla-tssurface is provided on each attaching control Wires or those of sparking plugs. flace'of the cam. he key 9 isactuated by a It is also applicable tocases Where the ball rod is tommy `.bar II,` one end of `Which engageswith a disposed in the direction of the thrust or pull that recess I2` provided in the member 3. 25 is to be produced, s In Figures 2, 3 and 4, I3 represents "a hollow TheV invention consists in the- Vprovisionof ball, provided with vagap and-bore, which moves means for taking up all-play in the` joint while in Yin the ball socket I4 and houses a second ball `I5 use and in the combination therewithof means which isA integral with the stud I6 of the support for enablingvthe joint to be rapidly connected and I I and of the rotatable tube I8. Theblook I9, 30 disconnected. 1 l f therupper Vand lower extremities of which engage Y Y In the accompanying drawings Which illustrate in a groove 20 (Figure 4) of the member I4, is various embodiments or applicationsof thisrinf pushedby a spring 2I,Athe` block 22 and cam 23 of ventionz` Y Y *n the key 23X `(shovvn in section in Figure 3). Figure l represents a section of this joint in the In Figuref5, 24 is a-ballrod whichmoves in its 35 caselof an ordinary control'operating by thrust housing 25A and is pushed by a block 26 comor traction;A i Y f l pressed by the spring 21and the block 28 which vFigure 2 is a section of this joint in the case of is under Ythe action of the cam 29 ofthe key 29X. a torsional control ;v A Washer 30 serves as thel abutment for a spring 40 Figure 3 is a sectionon line a-'a of Figure 2; 3| which bears against a socket 35 carrying a rod 40 Figure 4 is a sectionon line b-b of Figure 2; 33 about which the wire 32 is coiled. This rod Figure 5 iS @Section Of the deVCe aS applied is adapted to moveiin thevbayonet-catch groove for attaching the rudder control wire on aircraft; 34in the casing 25. The socket 35 serves to limit Figure 6 isa section 'of the deviceas applied for the coiling of the wire.

attaching a sparking'plug Wire; In Figure 6, 3I5`represents a sparking plug on 15 Figure 7 iS a mOdCaOIl in which the locking which is secured a ball rod- 31 moving in the ball device is in theform of asliding member; socket 38 surrounded by the insulating sheathing Figure 8 representsa'flocking devicerof the 39. The block140 is pressed bythe spring 4I. screw-down type; I ,j 1 The block 42 has aneccentric ridge 43 engaging Figure 9 represents twoball rods which can` be in a groove 45 and bears against one face of the 50 locked by means 0f asingle key; y 1 cam 45X of the key 44. This key has a' second Figure 10 represents a jointV in which the ball vgroove 46 and cam 46X engaging theridge 41 of rod may be in alignment vWith the axis or" the the block 48,symmetrically disposed in relationto casing; y the rst named ridge. The block 48 forms the .5,5 l Figure 11 is a plan of FigurelO; r g z p, abutment of a spring 49 which pressesagainst 55 v Y 58X exerts a thrust on the block Y makes contact with the o n the end of the fort required for 'eiiecting the block so, provided with a point 5| which insulated cable 53. Pins 54passing through the metal member 55 gripping the end of the wire, are provided with a projecting head adapted to move in the bayonet catch slots 55 provided in the member 38. The bar 44X for actuating the key 44 is insulated.

In Figure 7, 51 represents the handle of a key 58 provided with a tapered which key slidesv in the guides 59 and the'cam 60 which slides in the casing 6| and compresses the spring'62.

In Figure 8 the key 63 provided with the com'- cal cam surface 68 has a threaded stem 64 which when screwed into the casing 65 causes the cam 66 to exert a thrust onv the block 61 against the action of the spring 68.

In Figure 9 are shown two ball joints 69 and 10 disposed at right angles and mounted in a casing 1|. The double-action key 12 and vinterposed parts act on theballs in a similar manner to that described lwith reference to Figure 6. f

In Figures 10 and ll'a detachable cap 13 is retained on'the casing 14 by a bayonet slot 15in the cap engaging with the ends of the key which is similar in formation and operation to the key 9 in Figure l.

In Figures 12 and 13, the'detaehabieeap "l1 is retained on the casing `18 by means of a bent wire 19, the ends of which -are secured to they tendency for the key to turn on its pivot into the outer ends of the key 80.

In Figure 14 the casing 8| is provided with pro-,1

jections 82 adapted to engage with the groove 83 detachable cap 84 in the manner of a bayonet joint, the key 84X and associated vparts being constructed and'operating in a similar manner to the constructions abovefde'scribed.

' VIn Figure 15, 85 and represent the longrons of the fuselage of 'an airplane and V81 arethe straps supporting thetank 88. These straps are attached to the balls 89 and 90 which engage in the two casings'Sl and 92 formed integral with the members 93 and 94 by means of which the joint device is suitably secured on the longrons 85 and 80. Y 1

Inserted in the casings 9|; and 92 is a tube 95 through whichgpasses thecranked key vSit con-V trolled by the pulley 91 and cable 98. Said key, at the same time, controls the winding or a cable 99 adapted to drawl together the blocks |00 and i0! pushed by the springs |02 and |03 which push back the tubes |04 and |05 terminated by members provided with the ridges |06 and |01 engaging in the corresponding recesses |08 and |09 provided in thekey 88 and bearing `against the cams ||0 and in said recesses.

It will be seen that, on the, key 96 being turned, `the tubes |04 and |05 diverge or converge, When it is desired to detach the tank, the cable V98 Vis actuated inysuch a manner that the tubes il 04 and Y05 converge, releasing the springs |02 and |03. At the same time in winding on the key, the cable 98 allows'the blocks |00 and |0|` to release the balls 89 and 90 completely, the weight of the tank 88 then drawing said balls out of their casings.

In the case, Vfor example, of detaching a wing tank,'these balls may be employed Simultaneously, a single control releasing them all.

The cranked Ykey may, if desired, be replaced by .a threadedV taperV member adapted to turn several times on itself, thereby lessening the ef'- the detachment.

In theexamples of construction illustrated in Figures 16 to 19, the'mainparts of the jointLare metal portion 52 of the cam surface 58XV similar to the left hand half of Figure 9, but in these figures the face ||2 of the cam ||3 of the key H0 is cylindrical while the faces ||5 of the cam and the face H6 of the key'are fiat and the key handle |I1 is formed of steel wire arranged to clip round the casing I8 and thereby hold the key and associated parts in the lock-V ing position, but when the handle i|1 is sprung free from the casing as shown in Figure 19, it may be used to turn the key ||l| into and out ',of the locking position.

It will be obvious that the flat I6 enables the H9 and that the rounded portion ||2 of the cam ||3 on the other hand enables the said spring to be completely locked on the key H3 being turned through 180. Thus,'by varying the dimensions of the members any desired play can be given to the-ball. Y

In the construction shown in Figures 20 to 22, the rotatable lkey is replaced by a flat key |20 provided'with a cam surface against the sliding block |22 and .with two branch members such` as |23 adapted to clip round the. casing |25, said keyfbeing pivotally mounted on a pin |25 xed in said` casing. In use, to release the ball from the casing the key |20 is raised into the position shown in Figure 20; .whereas to lock the ball to the casing saidkey is forced into the position shown in Figure 21, the branches |23V thereby embracing the casing preventing any unlocking pin inadvertently.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details or Ycombination of parts as illustrated as other combinations and arrange-A ments may be devised according to. the use to which'the joint is to be put, without departing from the essential characteristics or this invention.

It will be noted that not any of the components of the devices herein described, with the exception of the screw 64' in Figure 8, are provided'with screw threads, as the metalemployed, usuallyan alloy of aluminium, wears away too quickly in the threaded portions. g Y

The operation of the several constructions or joints illustrated will be readily understood as it will be evident that when the keys 9, 23X, 29X, 45, 12,716, 80, 84X, 96 and ||4 are turned soas to bringthe deeper recess opposite the ball` end of the joint, the springs will,v be decompressed. and thatfwhen the conical cam surfaces 58 and 66 are in the positions shown in Figures 7, 8 and the plate key |20 is in the position shownin Figure 20, the same conditions will exist.

Having now particularly described'and ascertained the` nature of my said invention and in what manner the sameis Yto -be performed, I declareV that what I claim .ist- Y 1. VA ball joint coupling Vdevice comprising a 'casing having a ball seat formed therein,.a ballretaining member slidably mounted in said casing adapted to engage a ball for retaining the ballon the ball seat, a spring associatedwith the ball retainer for urging said retainer into operative position, a spring follower'associated with the spring, and eccentric means engaging the spring follower for shifting 'the follower toward the ball seat to place said spring under pressure and for shifting the follower away from the ball seat to relieve the pressure of the 'spring on the ball-retaining member, said eccentric means having a cam surface for engagingthe springifol- |2| adapted to bear lower, a portion of which is flattened to retain the eccentric in adjusted positions.

2. A ball joint device comprising a casing having a ball seat, a ball-carrying member having its ball positioned on the seat, a ball-retaining member slidably mounted in said casing toward and away from said ball seat, a spring for urging said ball-retaining member toward said seat, a spring follower associated with one end of the spring, a rotatable member having a cam surface for shifting said spring follower to increase the pressure exerted by the spring on said ball retainer, a handle for rotating said member, and spring means associated therewith for embracing and grasping said casing to hold the handle. in an adjusted position.

3. A ball joint device comprising a casing having a ball seat, a ball-carrying member having its ball positioned on the seat, a ball-retaining member slidably mounted in said casing toward and away from said ball seat, a spring for urging said ball-retaining member toward said seat, a spring follower associated with one end of the spring, a spring follower shifting member comprising a rotatable cylindrical body having a slot formed therein perpendicular to the axis thereof and extending from the surface to a point beyond the axis of the cylindrical member, said member also having a similar but very shallow slot positioned diametrically of the aforesaid slot to form between said slots a flattened eccentric pin, and means carried by said spring follower for entering the slots formed in said rotatable member and engaging said flattened eccentric pin.

4. A ball joint device comprising a casing having a ball seat, a ball-carrying member having its ball positioned on the seat, a ball-retaining member slidably mounted in said casing toward and away from said ball seat, a spring for urging said ball-retaining member toward said seat, a spring follower associated with one end of the spring, a spring follower shifting member comprising a rotatable cylindrical body having a slot formed therein perpendicular to the axis thereof and extending from the surface to a point beyond the axis of the cylindrical member, Vsaid member also having a similar but very shallow slot positioned diametrically of the aforesaid slot to form between said slots a flattened eccentric pin, means carried by said spring follower for entering the slots formed in said rotatable member and engaging said flattened eccentric pin, and means for rotating said cylindrical body including a handle provided with a spring clasp for retaining the same in an adjusted position.

i 5. A ball joint coupling device comprising a casing having a ball seat formed therein, a ballretaining member slidably mounted in said casing adapted to engage a ball for retaining the ball on the ball seat, a spring associated with the ball retainer for urging said retainer into operative position, a spring follower associated with the spring, eccentric means engaging the spring follower for shifting the follower toward the ball seat to place said spring under pressure and for shifting the follower away from the ball seat to relieve the pressure of the spring on the ball-retaining member, and an eccentric actuating device including spring means adapted to embrace said casing for locking said eccentric means in ball-retaining position.

REN JEAN CAMILLE TAMPIER. 

